Makayla
Girl name · #568 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Makayla? In official American birth records, Makayla has been tracked continuously since 1971, giving it 54 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 530 baby girls were named Makayla, placing it at #568 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #143, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 3,396 girls born in 2025 was named Makayla.
The 54-year story
Makayla first appears in the Social Security records in 1971, when 8 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2008, when 5,957 girls were named Makayla — good for #37 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Makayla per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Makayla against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Makayla in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Makayla is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Makayla will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Makayla is most common
Geography matters for names, and Makayla is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Makayla is most common in MD (0.9 per 1,000), GA (0.7 per 1,000), PA (0.6 per 1,000), NJ (0.6 per 1,000), AL (0.5 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.4 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Makayla is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Makayla
Statistically, parents drawn to Makayla tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Mikayla, Jayla, Kyla, Makenna, and Estrella.
MikaylaJaylaKylaMakennaEstrellaMckennaDanielaSkyla
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Makayla | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 530 | #566 |
| 2024 | 562 | #540 |
| 2023 | 683 | #450 |
| 2022 | 797 | #392 |
| 2021 | 880 | #355 |
| 2020 | 954 | #325 |
| 2019 | 1,265 | #261 |
| 2018 | 1,376 | #232 |
| 2017 | 1,506 | #205 |
| 2016 | 1,946 | #165 |
| 2015 | 2,263 | #143 |
| 2014 | 2,591 | #123 |
| 2013 | 3,297 | #94 |
| 2012 | 3,774 | #70 |
| 2011 | 4,460 | #56 |
| 2010 | 5,397 | #43 |
| 2009 | 5,269 | #44 |
| 2008 | 5,957 | #37 |
| 2007 | 5,428 | #47 |
| 2006 | 5,652 | #45 |
| 2005 | 5,727 | #44 |
| 2004 | 5,666 | #47 |
| 2003 | 5,580 | #51 |
| 2002 | 5,476 | #50 |
| 2001 | 5,318 | #54 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Makayla?
In official American birth records, the name Makayla first appeared in 1971 (over 54 years ago), when 8 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 54 years.
Is Makayla a popular girl name?
Makayla ranked #568 among girls in 2025 with 530 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #143.
When was the name Makayla most popular?
Makayla peaked in 2008, when 5,957 American girls received the name (ranked #37 that year). Since 2008 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Makayla?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 3,396 newborn American girls was named Makayla. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.